Starting a business

You may be planning to start a business or perhaps you’ve already begun. Find advice on the essentials, from writing a business plan to intellectual property.

Download your business plan template
Starting up a business
Business support and advice
Form a company or business
Intellectual property
Naming a business
Buy a business or franchise
Create business plan

Download your business plan template

Created especially for start-ups, our business plan template includes some helpful hints as well as what to include.

1 Resource in this subject

Template

Starting up a business

Finding customers, funding, business structures and planning, working from home, mistakes to avoid, tax, legal issues and useful video diaries from real businesses – it’s all here.

23 Resources in this subject

Guide

6 top tips on how to network in today’s world

3 min read

Article

8 tips on identifying the main costs when starting a business

3 min read

Article

A quick guide to pricing products & services

3 min read

Article

Quick ways to test your business idea is viable

6 min read

Article

How to start a business in challenging times

5 min read

Online Tutorial

Bringing your business idea to life

Article

Considerations for starting your own business

3 min read

Article

Free business research and market reports

2 min read

Guide

How to start a Business: the basics

3 min read

Guide

Starting a business in tough economic conditions

4 min read

Guide

Starting a business as a non-UK national

2 min read

Guide

Starting a high-growth business

2 min read

Guide

Starting and growing a rural business

1 min read

Guide

How to set up an innovation start-up business

4 min read

Guide

Starting up: consider your exit strategy

7 min read

Guide

Starting up: common mistakes and how to avoid them

6 min read

Template

Business support and advice

You may need support to help you start or grow your business. There are organisations in Scotland that can offer business support and advice in areas like starting up, improving skills, international trade, innovation and efficiency.

5 Resources in this subject

Guide

Help to Win Public Sector Contracts from the Supplier Development Programme (SDP)

2 min read

Guide

Help for start-ups – The support available for your start up

4 min read

Guide

Women in Business

7 min read

Guide

Preventing discrimination and valuing diversity

16 min read

Guide

Self Assessment: the basics

2 min read

Form a company or business

Limited company, partnership, sole trader...the legal structure you choose for your business will affect your tax, paperwork and personal financial liability. Take a look at our guides to see how.

6 Resources in this subject

Guide

Set up and register a limited partnership

5 min read

Guide

Set up and register a limited liability partnership

6 min read

Guide

Legal structures: the basics

14 min read

External Resource

Set up and register as self-employed

1 min read

External Resource

Set up and register a limited company

1 min read

External Resource

Set up a social enterprise

1 min read

Intellectual property

Limited company, partnership, sole trader...the legal structure you choose for your business will affect your tax, paperwork and personal financial liability. Take a look at our guides to see how.

3 Resources in this subject

Guide

Intellectual property: the basics

4 min read

Guide

Non-disclosure agreements

6 min read

Article

Patently Prudent

6 min read

Naming a business

There are a few rules when it comes to naming your business. Follow them, and you’ll have a name that says the right things and serves you well.

2 Resources in this subject

Guide

Naming your limited company or limited liability partnership

3 min read

Guide

Choose the right name for your business

10 min read

Buy a business or franchise

Obviously you need to understand the actual business you’re considering buying, but you also need to know things like your obligations to staff and the details of contracts and agreements.

2 Resources in this subject

Guide

Franchising

9 min read

Guide

Buy an existing business in the UK

9 min read

Create business plan

A business plan can help you secure funding, as well as clarifying how your business will work, who your customers are, and how much money you’ll make.

2 Resources in this subject

Guide

Working on a business plan

Guide

Surviving until my business is off the ground

9 min read

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Starting a business

Download your business plan template

Starting up a business

Business support and advice

Form a company or business

Intellectual property

Naming a business

Buy a business or franchise

Create business plan

Get the support you need right now